Cutting apparatus for mouthpiece rods



5 Sheets-Sheet l Fzgl.

J. A. RAKOWICZ ETAL CUTTING APPARATUS FOR MOUTHPIECE nous May 31, 1966Filed June 26, 1963 mum/mks A T TORNE 731 y 1966 J. A. RAKOWICZ ETAL3,253,491

CUTTING APPARATUS FOR MOUTHPIECE RODS Filed June 26, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet2 Arm/wag y 1966 J. A. RAKOWICZ ETAL 3,253,491

CUTTING APPARATUS FOR MOUTHPIECE RODS Filed June 26, 1965 ,5Sheets-Sheet s gx'iizm wow, M; QVM Mm y 1966 J. A. RAKOWICZ ETAL3,253,491

CUTTING APPARATUS FOR MOUTHPIECE RODS Filed June 26, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet4 M/Vf/VTOR M 4 F 13. 6 ,9 5 MW May 31, 1966 J. A. RAKOWICZ ETAL3,253,491

CUTTING APPARATUS FOR MOUTHPIECE RODS Filed June 26, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet5 mum 70g A TTOR/VE E United States Patent 3,253,491 CUTTING APPARATUFOR MOUTHPIECE RODS Jan Antoni Ralrowicz and Eric Alfred Luddington,Deptford, London, England, assignors to The Molins 0rganisation Limited,a British company Filed June 26, 1963, Ser. No. 290,820 Claims priority,application Great Britain, .fuly 6, 1962, 26,112/ 62 7 Claims. (Cl.83-411) This invention concerns improvements in or relating to cuttingapparatus for sub-dividing multiple length rods, such as multiple lengthmouthpiece rods, into single length rods, for example in the productionof mouthpieces for cigarettes, and in particular to cutting apparatus inwhich multiple length rods are carried laterally by a rotating carrier,such as a drum, having flutes in which the rods are supported, pastcutting means, such as one or more rotating disc knives each of whichacts through a corresponding space in the carrier to sever each multiplelength rod transversely of its length, to produce a plurality of singlelength rods. For convenience such apparatus will be referred to hereinas cutting apparatus as specified.

By the term single length rod is meant a rod of the length desired afterthe cutting operation, and by'the term multiple length rod is meant arod whose length is a multiple of that of a single length rod. Forconvenience, a mouthpiece rod of suitable length for incorporation in anindividual mouthpiece cigarette will be referred to herein as anindividual mouthpiece, and it is to be understood that the length of asingle length mouthpiece rod may be a multiple of the length of anindividual mouthpiece.

In the manufacture of mouthpiece cigarettes it is often the practice tofeed multiple length mouthpiece rods from a hopper to cutting apparatusas specified, in which they are subdivided into single length mouthpiecerods, each of which is double the length of an individual mouthpiece,each single length mouthpiece rod then being inserted between twocigarette lengths to which the mouthpiece rod is joined, and eachassembly so formed then being severed through the centre of the singlelength mouthpiece rod toprodue two individual mouthpiece cigarettes.

It may be desired to manufacture different types of mouthpiececigarettes, each type of cigarette having individual mouthpieces of adifferent length. Thus it is sometimes desired to produce single lengthmouthpiece rods of different lengths, and in some cases this maynecessitate the provision of different cutting apparatus for each suchdifferent length of single length mouthpiece rod.

According to the present invention there is provided, for use in cuttingapparatus as specified a rotatable carrier comprising a selected seriesof discs of equal diameter and each of a selected width, mountedco-axially in close fixed relationship on a rotatable shaft for rotationtherewith and with one end disc at a fixed position relative thereto,the discs having peripheral flutes in which multiple length rods aresupportable lengthwise of the carrier, and two selected consecutivediscs in the series being spaced apart so that they define a space'inthe carrier through which a cutting edge can act, the position of thespace lengthwise of the shaft being determined by the widths of thediscs, and by the position of the said spaced discs and being arrangedto correspond to a position at which a multiple length rod carried onthe carrier is to be severed to produce single length rods of a desiredlength, characterised in that at different times, different suchselected series of discs are mountable on the shaft with the said spacearranged at different positions lengthwise of the shaft at the saiddifferent times, whereby the ice carrier is adaptable for use in theproduction of single length rods of different desired lengths.

The series of discs may comprise discs of different w dths, the discsbeing arranged in a selected sequence, and the said spaced discs beingat selected positions in the sequence.

A plurality of pairs of consecutive discs in the series may have thediscs of each pair spaced apart so as to provide a plurality of suchspaces in the carrier, the distance between two such consecutive spacesalong the carrier being equal to the desired length of a single lengthrod. A pair of spaced discs may be separated by a spacing plece.

The series may be selected so that the length of the carriersubstantially equals the length of the multiple length rods to becarried thereby, the said space or spaces in the carrier beingpositioned to divide the length of the carrier into intervals, each of alength equal to the desired length of a single length rod.

. The carrier may comprise a sleeve, on which the discs are slidablymounted, being keyed to the said shaft, and having a flange portion,packing means between the flange portion and the said series to positionthe series lengthwise of the sleeve, and holding means to hold the discsin close fixed relationship with the said one end disc, the sleeve beingcapable of accommodating the said different selected series of discs.The said different series of discs may have associated therewithcorresponding different selections of packing means to position eachsuch series with the said one end disc at the said'fixed positionrelative to the shaft.

The said series of discs may be selected from a set of discs, which maycontain discs of different widths, from which the said different seriescan be selected. Similarly the said packing means may be selected from aset of packing collars, which may contain packing collars of differentwidths, from which the said different selections of packing means can betaken.

Further according to the present invention there is provided, for use incutting apparatus as specified (e.g. in conjunction with a carrier asset forth above), cutting means comprising a rotatable shaft arrangedparallel to the axis of and opposite a carrier in the said cuttingapparatus, a disc knife mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, andpositioning means to hold the knife in a selected position on the shaftwhich corresponds to a position at which a multiple length rod carriedin a-fiute on the carrier is to be severed to produce single length rodsof a desired length, characterised in that the said knife is positioned,at different times, at different such selected positions on the shaft sothat the cutting means can be used, at the said different times, in theproduction of single length rods of different desired lengths.

For example there may be provided two end parts arranged in fixedpositions relative to the shaft, the disc knife being slidable along theshaft between the end parts, and the positioning means comprising aselected series of sleeves, each of a selected length, between aselected pair of which the knife is held in the said selected position,

the distance between the knife and each end part being occupied by oneor more of the sleeves in the series, and the shaft being capable ofaccommodating between the end parts, at the said different times,different selected series Further still according to the presentinvention there is provided, for use with cutting apparatus asspecified, a hopper having a fixed wall and an opposed parallel wallwhose position can be adjusted, there being provided means to hold thesaid opposed wall in a selected position at a desired distance from thesaid fixed wall, whereby multiple length rods of a desired length can beaccommodated between, and with their axes substantially perpendicular tothe said walls and can fall through the hopper to be fed to the carrierin the said cutting apparatus, the said distance between the walls beingat least equal to the said desired length of the multiple length rods,characterised in that the said opposed wall is capable of beingpositioned at different times, at different selected positions, so thatthe hopper can accommodate multiple length rods of different desiredlengths at the said different times.

For example, the said opposed wall may be connected to a fixed member,there being provided packing means, comprising one or more selectedpacking pieces each of selected width, between the member and the saidwall to position the latter at the said selected position.

Further still according to the present invention there is providedcutting apparatus as specified, comprising a hopper as set forth above,a carrier as set forth above, positioned beneath the hopper with thecarrier shaft substantially perpendicular to the planes of the saidparallel walls of the hopper, and cutting means as set forth abovepositioned with the knife shaft opposite and parallel to the carriershaft, the said selected positions of the adjustable hopper wall, andthe disc knife or knives, and the said selected series of discs beingsuch that multiple length rods of a desired length can be contained andcan fall through the hopper to be received on the carrier, and can becarried thereby past the cutting means to be severed into single lengthrods of a desired length, wherein, at different times, the carrier caninclude the said different series of discs, and the adjustable hopperwall and the disc knife or knives can be arranged at the said differentselected positions, so that the cutting apparatus is usable, at the saiddifferent times, to produce single length rods of different desiredlengths.

The cutting apparatus may include one or more selected packing collars,one or more selected series of knife positioning sleeves, and one ormore selected packing pieces which may be selected together with theseries of discs from a set of parts comprising sets of disks, packingcollars, knife positioning sleeves, and packing pieces.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described by wayof example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevation,

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line IIII of FIGURE 1, drawing to adifferent scale,

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line IIIIII of FIG- URE 1, drawn to adifferent scale,

FIGURE 4 is a view, similar to part of FIGURE 2, showing a differentarrangement of parts,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to part of FIGURE 3 showing a differentarrangement of parts,

FIGURES 6 and 7 are views similar to FIGURES 4 and 5 respectively,showing a further different arrangement of parts.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 the apparatus comprises a hopper 1having parallel opposed walls 2 and 3 (FIGURE 2) spaced apart by adistance slightly greater than the length of multiple length rods to becontained in the hopper 1. Inside the hopper there is provided anendless band 4 (FIGURE 1), which moves in the direction of the arrowover a guide member 4a, a band 4 passing about a roller 5 and a humpedroller 6 on which, the guide member 4a rests, the latter being attachedat its upper end (not shown) to a fixed part. Connected to the guidemember 4a is a guide extension 7. As the roller 6rotates the member 4aand the extension 7 are shaken by the action of the humped roller.Multiple length mouthpiece rods, fed to the hopper 1, are accommodatedbetween, and with their axes substantially perpendicular to, the walls 2and 3, and can fall through the hopper, guided by the band 4 on theguide member 4a and the guide extension 7. The shaking action of themember 4a assists in maintaining the rods in correct orientation,

and the rotating fluted roller 8 further aligns rods issuing from thebottom of the hopper 1.

A carrier 9, substantially in the form of a drum to be more fullydescribed later, is positioned beneath the hopper 1, between, and Withits axis perpendicular to, the planes of the walls 2 and 3 (see FIGURE2). The carrier 9 has longitudinal flutes 10 in which the multiplelength rods can be supported, and is rotated in the direction of thearrow in FIGURE 1. Thus the rods issuing from the bottom of the hopper 1are received in the flutes 10, a rotating refuser roller 11 acting toguide one rod into each flute, and are conveyed laterally by therotating carrier 9. Guides 10a are provided to hold the rods in theflutes.

Cutting means, comprising three disc knives 12 mounted on two rotatableshafts 13 and 14, with one knife 12 on the upper shaft 13 and two knives12 on the lower shaft 14, (see FIGURE 3), are provided to sever themultiple length rods. The shafts 13 and 14 are arranged parallel to theaxis of and opposite the carrier 9, in which there are provided spacesin the form of peripheral grooves 15, through which the cutting edges ofthe knives 12 can act (FIGURES 2 and 3).

Thus, in the arrangement shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, quadruple lengthmouthpiece rods are fed to the hopper 1, through which they fall to bereceived in the flutes 10 of the rotating carrier 9. The carrier 9 thencarries the rods past the cutting means, and the rotating disc knives 12sever each rod transversely of its axis at three positions along itslength, to produce four single length mouthpiece rods (each of which isdouble the length of an individual mouthpiece). The single lengthmouthpiece rods then fall from the carrier 9 as they pass the ends ofthe guides 10a at the lower portion of its periphery, to pass to furtherapparatus for inserting each rod between two cigarette lengths to whichthe mouthpiece rod is joined, each assembly so formed then being severedthrough the centre of the single length mouthpiece rod to produce twoindividual mouthpiece cigarettes.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the wall 2 of the hopper 1 is fixed, andthe wall 3 is connected by screws 16 to a fixed member in the form of abracket 17. Screw connections to the bracket 17 are provided at threepositions on the wall 3 (two of which are shown in FIGURE 1) to preventthe wall from tipping about an axis in its plane. At each of these screwpositions, there is provided packing means, comprising a selectedpacking piece 18 of a selected width (considered in a directionperpendicular to the wall 3), between the bracket 17 and the wall 3.Thus the wall 3 is held, by the screws 16, against the packing pieces18, at a selected position which is determined by the width of thepacking pieces 18, and which is a desired distance from the wall 2slightly greater than the length of the multiple length mouthpiece rodsto be contained in the hopper 1.

In association with the hopper 1 there is provided a set of packingpieces, containing packing pieces of different widths, to be more fullydescribed later. If it is desired to arrange the wall 3 at a differentselected position (so that the hopper 1 can accommodate multiple lengthrods of a different desired length), the packing pieces 18 can beexchanged for other packing pieces of a different selected width,selected from the set, and the wall 3 can therefore be arranged at thesaid different position, determined by the selected width of the saidother packing pieces.

It will be appreciated that, if desired, a plurality of packing pieces,each of a selected width, could be placed, in conjunction with eachscrew 16, in sideways abutment between the wall 3 and the bracket17,-the position of the wall 3 being determined by the combined widthsof the packing pieces.

It will further be appreciated that, if desired, the packing pieces 18could be omit-ted from the hopper, the wall 3 being held in the saidselected positions only by the screws 16, and the different positions ofthe wall 3 being achieved by screwing the screws 16 further into thebracket 17. However, such an arrangement would have the disadvantagethat it would be necessary to judge how far to screw the screws 16 intothe bracket 17 in order to correctly position the wall 3, whereas, withthe provision of packing pieces, it is only necessary to place a packingpiece of the correct selected width between the wall 3 and the. bracket17, and to tighten the screw 16 so that the wall, packing piece andbracket are in abutment, so that the wall 3 is automatically held in thecorrect selected position. It will also be seen from FIGURE 2 that oneposition of the wall 3 can be against the bracket 17 without any spacebetween the two.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the carrier 9 comprises a selected series ofdiscs 19 of the same diameter, and each, in FIGURE 2, of the sameselected width, slidably mounted co-axially on a sleeve 20 keyed to arotatable shaft 21. A Washer 22 is provided between the discs of eachpair of consecutive discs 19 in the series to separate the discs, and atselected positions the discs so spaced define the grooves 15 in thecarrier 9. The discs 19 are peripherally fluted to form the flutes inthe carrier 9.

Screws 23 (see also FIGURE 1) pass through the series of discs 19 andthe washers 22, and are screwed into a flange portion 24 of the sleeve20. Packing means comprising a plurality of selected packing collars 25,each of a selected width, is provided between the series of discs 19 andthe flange portion 24, to position the series with the left-hand enddisc as viewed in FIGURE 2, at a fixed position relative to the sleeve20 (i.e. at a fixed position relative to the shaft 21).

Thus the discs 19 are held by the screws 23 in close fixed relationship(in abutment with the washers 22), and the positions of the groovesrelative to the shaft 21 are determined by the widths of the discs 19.The two end :discs 19 in [the series form the two ends of the carrier 9,the length of which is substantially equal to the length of the multiplelength rods to be carried thereby, the grooves 15 being positioned todivide this length into intervals, each of a length equal to the desiredlength of a single length rod. Thus, in FIGURE 2, the combined widths oftwo discs 19 and the associated washers 22 make up the desired length ofa single length rod.

At different times, different selected series of discs 19 can be mountedon the sleeve 20, and the grooves 15 can thus be arranged at differentpositions relative to the shaft 21, so that the carrier 9 can be used inthe the production of single length rods of different desired lengths.

In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 2, the discs 19 have a width of 9 /2mm., the series comprising eight discs. Three grooves 15 are thus spacedat regular intervals of mm. along the shaft 21 (the washers being /2 mm.in width), and quadruple length rods of 80 mm. length can be carried onthe carrier-9 to be subdivided into single length rods of 20 mm. length.Two packing collars of 8 mm. Width, and one packing collar of 6 mm.width are provided between the right-hand end disc as viewed in FIGURE 2and the flange portion 24.

FIGURE 4 shows a carrier 9 in which a different selected series of discs19 is mounted on the sleeve 20. In this arrangement the series comprisesdiscs of different selected widths arranged in a selected sequence.There are provided six discs of 11 /2 mm. width and three discs of 5 /2mm. width, the sequence having one 5 /2 mm.

between each pair of consecutive discs), and the carrier can carrytriple length rods of 90 mm. length which are to be subdivided intosingle length rods of mm. length. Packing means comprising one selectedpacking collar of 12 mm. width is provided between the disc 19 and theflange portion 24 to correctly position the series of discs.

FIGURE 6 shows a carrier 9 having a further different selected series ofdiscs 19 mounted on the sleeve 20. In this arrangement the seriescomprises six discs of 11 /2 mm. width and two discs of 5 /2 mm. width,arranged in a selected sequence having one 5 /2 mm. wide disc followedby three 11 /2 mm. wide discs in two sets along the sleeve 20, a washeragain being provided between each pair of consecutive discs. Thus onegroove 15 divides the length of the carrier 9 into two intervals of v 42mm. length, and double length rods of 84 mm. length wide disc followedby two 11 /2 mm. wide discs in three sets along the sleeve 20. Thus, twogrooves 15 are provided at regularly spaced intervals of 30 mm. alongthe shaft 21 (a /2 mm. wide washer again being provided can be dividedinto single length rods of 42 mm. length on the carrier 9. The packingmeans provided in this arrangement comprises one packing collar of 12mm. width and one packing collar of 6 mm. width.

Thus, as can be seen from these examples, different selected series ofdiscs can be mounted on the sleeve 20 at different times, so thatdifferent length multiple length rods can be carried and cut on thecarrier to produce single length rods of different desired lengths,corresponding different selections of packing means, comprising one ormore packing collars 25, being'associated with the said differentselected series of discs, to position each such series relatively to theshaft 21.

It will be appreciated that, where a series of discs includes discs ofdifferent width, the discs must be arranged in a selected sequence, butthat within parts of the sequence the positioning of the discs isarbitrary. Thus, for example, in the series illustrated in FIGURE 4, ineach set of three discs having one narrow and two wide .discs, it isimmaterial whether the narrow disc is positioned before, between orafter the wide discs, since the groove 15 would be at the same positionrelative to the shaft 21 in each case. However, in order to correctlyposition the grooves 15 in that series, the discs must be arranged in asequence having three sets, each containing one narrow and two widediscs.

The discs in a series are selected from a set of discs 19, containingdiscs of different selected widths and to be more fully described later.Similarly the packing collars 25 are selected from a set of packingcollars, containing packing collars of different widths.

It will be appreciated that one series of discs 19 can be mounted on thesleeve 20 without any packing collars 25, the end disc being helddirectly against the flange portion 24.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the shafts 13 and 14 are each provided with alongitudinal flat face 26 (FIG- URE l) and each disc knife 12 is carriedin a support 27 having'a hole shaped to correspond to the shape of theshaft. Thus each disc knife 12 is slidable along its shaft and ismounted for rotation therewith.

The shafts 13 and 14 are mounted in bearings 28 in a fixed housing 29.Considering firstly the shaft 13, a collar 30 is attached to the support27 for the knife 12. A selected series of sleeves 31, each of a selectedlength, is mounted on the shaft 13, the knife 12 on its support 27 andthe attached collar 30 being positioned between a selected pair ofsleeves in the series. The bearings 28 at each end of the shaft 13 holdthe sleeves and knife support in abutment and thus the position of theknife on the shaft is determined by the selection of sleeves. In thearrangement shown in FIGURE 3 there are provided four sleeves, two of 2mm. length, one of 16 mm. length and one of 22 mm. length. These arearranged in a selected sequence with one 2 mm. long sleeve and the 16mm. long sleeve to the left of the knife as viewed in FIGURE 3, and theother two sleeves on the other side 7 of the knife. Thus the knife isheld at a selected position which corresponds to the centre groove 15 onthe carrier 9 shown in FIGURE 2.

Another selected series of sleeves 31 is mounted on the shaft 14 toposition the two knives relatively thereto. In this case the knives andsleeves 31 are arranged in a selected sequence which comprises, from theleft of the shaft as viewed in FIGURE 3, a sleeve of 8% mm. length, aknife 12 on its support 27 and attached collar 30, a sleeve of mm.length, a knife 12 on its support 27 and collar 30, and a sleeve of 4mm. length. Thus the two knives 12 are held in selected positions on theshaft 14, which correspond to the two end grooves on the carrier 9.

At different times, different selected series of sleeves 31, each of aselected length, can be mounted on the shafts 13 and 14 between the endbearings 28, and each knife 12 can therefore be held in differentselected positions relative to its shaft.

Referring to FIGURE 5, which shows cutting means for use in conjunctionwith the carrier shown in FIG- URE 4, the selected series of sleeves 31on the shaft 13 comprises, from the left as viewed in FIGURE 5, a sleeveof 8 mm. length, followed by a knife 12 and its associated support andcollar, a sleeve of 22 mm. length and a sleeve of 12 mm. length. Thusthe knife is held in a selected position which corresponds to theposition of the left hand groove 15 in the carrier as viewed in FIGURE4. The selected series of sleeves 31 on the shaft 14 comprises, from theleft as viewed in FIGURE 5, a sleeve of 38 mm. length, a knife 12 andits associated support and collar, and a sleeve of 4 mm. length. Theknife 12 is thus held in a selected position which corresponds to theposition of the right hand groove 15 in the carrier as viewed in FIGURE4.

Referring to FIGURE 7, which shows cutting means for use in conjunctionwith the carrier shown in FIG- URE 6, only the shaft 13 is used. Theselected series of sleeves 31 mounted thereon comprises, from the leftas viewed in FIGURE 7, a sleeve of 16 mm. length, a knife 12 and itsassociated support and collar, and a sleeve of 26 mm. length, Thus theknife 12 is held at a position which corresponds to the position of thegroove 15 in the carrier shown in FIGURE 6.

Thus, as can be seen from these examples, different selected series ofsleeves 31 can be mounted, at different times, on one or both of theshafts 13 and 14, so that the knife or knives 12 can be arranged atdifferent selected positions relative thereto. Where the selected seriescontains sleeves of different selected lengths they should be arrangedin a selected sequence, but it will again be appreciated that withinparts of the sequence the positioning of the sleeves may be arbitrary.Thus, for example, in the cutting means shown in FIGURE 5 it isimmaterial in which order the sleeve of 22 mm. and 12 mm. length areplaced on the shaft 13, provided that they are placed together on theright hand side of the knife 12 as viewed in FIGURE 5.

The sleeves 31 are selected from a set of sleeves, containing sleeves ofdifferent lengths, to be more fully described later.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Selected packing pieces 18 are placed between the bracket 17 and thewall 3 to position the latter at a distance from the wall 2 which isslightly greater than the length of the multiple length mouthpiece rodsto be subdivided. A selected series of discs 19, together withcorresponding selection of one or more packing collars 25, are mountedon the sleeve 20, on the shaft 21, so that the length of the carrier 9substantially equals the length of the multiple length rods, and so thatone or more grooves 15 are provided in the carrier at a selectedposition or selected positions corresponding to the position orpositions at which a multiple length rod is to be severed. A desirednumber of knives 12 are mounted on one or both of the shafts 13 and 14,together with a selected series of sleeves 31 to position the knife orknives so as to be capable of cutting through the groove or grooves 15.Multiple length rods are then fed to the hopper 1 and the apparatusoperates as previously described to cut them into single length rods ofa desired length.

Thus, in the arrangement shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, quadruple length rodsof mm. length are cut into single length rods of 20 mm. length, each ofwhich is to form two individual mouthpieces of 10 mm. lentgh, In thearrangement shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, triple length rods of mm. lengthare cut into single length rods of 30 mm. length, each of which is toform two individual mouthpieces of 15 mm. length. In the arrangementshown in FIGURES 6 and 7, double length rods of 84 mm. length are cutinto single length rods of 42 mm. length, each of which is to form twoindividual mouthpieces of 21 mm, length.

The packing pieces 18, the series of discs 19, the packing collars 25and the series of sleeves 31, are selected from a set of partscomprising the following:

3 packing pieces of each 6 mm., 9 mm., 12 mm., 14 mm., 18 mm., 22 mm.,24 mm., 26 mm., 30 mm., 36 mm., and 38 mm. width,

4 discs of 5 /2 mm. width,

8 discs of 9 /2 mm. width, and

6 discs of 11 /2 mm. width,

2 packing collars of 6 mm. width,

2 packing collars of 8 mm. width, and

2 packing collars of 12 mm width, and

2 sleeves of 2 mm length, and

1 sleeve of each of 4 mm., 5 mm., 8 mm., 9 mm., 10% mm., 11 mm., 12 mm.,16 mm, 20 mm., 22 mm., 26 mm., 31 mm., 33 mm., and 38 mm. length.

By selecting different combinations of parts from the set, the cuttingapparatus can be used to produce single length r-ods which can bebisected to form individual mouthpieces of 8 mm., 9 mm., 10 mm., 11 mm.,12 mm., 13 mm., 14 mm., 15 mm., 15 /2 mm., 16 mm., 17 mm., 18 mm., 19mm., 20 mm., 21 mm., and 22 mm, length.

It will be appreciated, however, that different sets of parts may beprovided to suit individual requirements.

In order that the rate of feed of single length rods from the carrier 9,i.e. the number of rods fed per unit of time, should be substantiallythe same whatever the length of rod being fed, the carrier 9, isarranged to rotate at a different speed when quadruple, triple, anddouble length rods respectively are being cut. Thus, for example, wheneach flute 10 of the carrier 9 contains two single length rods (i.e.when double length rods are cut), the speed of rotation of the carrieris twice that when each flute 10 contains four single length rods (i.e.when quadruple length rods are cut).

What we claim as our invention and desired to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. For use in cutting apparatus as specified, a rotatable carriercomprising a selected series of discs of equal diameter and each of aselected width, mounted co-axially in close fixed relationship on arotatable shaft for rotation therewith and with one end disc at a fixedposition relative thereto, the discs having peripheral flutes in whichmultiple length rods are supportable lengthwise of the carrier, and twoselected consecutive discs in the series being spaced apart so that theydefine a space in the carrier through which a cutting edge can act, theposition of the space lengthwise of the shaft being determined by thewidths of the discs, and by the position of the said spaced discs, andbeing arranged to correspond to a position at which a multiple lengthrod carried on the carrier is to be severed to produce single lengthrods of a desired length, characterised in that at different times,different such selected series of discs are mountable on the shaft withthe said space arranged at different positions lengthwise of the shaftat the said different times, whereby the carrier is adaptable for use inthe production of single length rods of different desired lengths.

2. A rotatable carrier as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that theseries is selected so that the length of the carrier substantiallyequals the length of the multiple length rods to be carried thereby, thesaid space or spaces in the carrier being positioned to divide thelength of the carrier into intervals, each of a length equal to thedesired length of a single length rod.

3. A rotatable carrier as claimed in claim 2, including a sleeve onwhich said discs are slidably mounted, said sleeve being keyed to thesaid shaft, and having a flange portion, packing means between theflange portion and the said series to position the series lengthwise ofthe sleeve, and holding means to hold the discs in close fixedrelationship with the said one end disc, the sleeve being capable ofaccommodating the said different selected series of discs.

4. Cutting apparatus for cutting multiple length rods of mouthpiecematerial into single length rods, comprising in combination a hopperhaving side walls one of which is adjustable relatively to the other toenable the hopper to accommodate multiple length rods of differentlengths, a rotatable carrier beneath the hopper, said rotatable carriercomprising a rotatable member, a plurality of fluted discs and means forsecuring said discs at a plurality of positions on said rotatable memberto enable the carrier to accommodate rods of different lengths, a shaftparallel with the axis of said rotatable member, at least one disc knifeand means for securing said knife at a plurality of positions along thelength of said shaft, spacing means to separate at least two consecutivefluted discs to provide a space therebetween through which said discknife can pass, said discs and said spacing means being positionable atdifferent locations along said rotatable member to provide spacesthrough which different numbers of knives at different positions alongsaid shaft can pass, whereby the apparatus can be readily adjustedtohandle multiple length rods of different lengths and to cut them intodifferent desired numbers of single length rods of desired lengths.

5. In apparatus for cutting rods into predetermined lengths, a hopperfor said rods comprising in combination a rotatable shaft, a sleevemounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and having a flange at oneend, a plurality of peripherally fluted discs slidably mounted on saidsleeve for rotation therewith, packing collars mounted on said sleevebetween said discs and said flange, said flange and said collars havinga smaller diameter than that of said discs, a fixed side wall for saidhopper located at that side of the hopper remote from said flange, anadjustable side wall mounted at the opposite side of the hopper andmovable axially of said shaft and apertured to enable it to be fittedover said collars and said flange, spacing means to space at least twoof said discs apart to accommodate a knife between them, and means tohold said discs and said collars against said flange, said discs andsaid collars-being readily removable and replaceable by different groupsof discs and collars to change the effective width of the hopper.

6. An apparatus for cutting rods into predetermined lengths as claimedin claim 5 wherein said spacing means to space at least two of saiddiscs apart to accommodate 3 knife between them comprises at least oneannular isc.

7. An apparatus for cutting rods into predetermined lengths as claimedin claim 5 wherein said means to hold said discs and said collarsagainst said flange comprises at least one bolt which passes throughsaid discs and said collars and into said flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,443,470 1/ 1923Halversen 10l64 2,047,021 7/1936 Friden 83411 2,377,130 5/1945 Cohen83665 2,648,445 8/1953 Roessl 221242 2,716,449 8/1955 Larsen 834112,744,619 5/1956 Olson 198211 2,777,567 1/1957 Russell 198211- 2,888,0765/1959 Lanstro 83- 665 2,898,998 8/1959 Schur 83-926 2,979,979 4/ 1961Hearden 83435 3,013,694 12/1961 Huhn 221-242 3,067,644 12/1962 Dearsley83411 3,081,778 3/1963 Dearsley 93-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 924,126 4/1963Great Britain.

WILLIAM W. DYER, 111., Printary Examiner.

J. L. SEITCHIK, W. S. LAWSON, Assistant Examiners.

1. FOR USE IN CUTTING APPARATUS AS SPECIFIED, A ROTATABLE CARRIERCOMPRISING A SELECTED SERIES OF DISCS OF EQUAL DIAMETER AND EACH OF ASELECTED WIDTH, MOUNTED CO-AXIALLY IN CLOSE FIXED RELATIONSHIP ON AROTATABLE SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND WITH ONE END DISC AT A FIXEDPOSITION RELATIVE THERETO, THE DISCS HAVING PERIPHERAL FLUTES IN WHICHMULTIPLE LENGTH RODS ARE SUPPORTABLE LENGTHWISE OF THE CARRIER, AND TWOSELECTED CONSECUTIVE DISCS IN THE SERIES BEING SPACED APART SO THAT THEYDEFINE A SPACE IN THE CARRIER THROUGH WHICH A CUTTING EDGE CAN ACT, THEPOSITION OF THE SPACE LENGTHWISE OF THE SHAFT BEING DETERMINED BY THEWIDTHS OF THE DISCS, AND BY THE POSITION OF THE SAID SPACED DISCS, ANDBEING ARRANGED TO CORRESPOND TO A POSITION AT WHICH A MULTIPLE LENGTHROD CARRIED ON THE CARRIER IS TO BE SEVERED TO PRODUCE SINGLE LENGTHRODS OF A DESIRED LENGTH, CHARACTERISED IN THAT AT DIFFERENT TIMES,DIFFERENT SUCH SELECTED SERIES OF DISCS ARE MOUNTABLE ON THE SHAFT WITHTHE SAID SPACE ARRANGED AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS LENGTH-